Prayer to Prevent One Mortal Sin, Conversion or Return to Faith, Indulgenced Ejaculations

Prayer to Prevent One Mortal Sin:

O Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, we beseech Thee, offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, to prevent at least one mortal sin from being committed somewhere in the world today.  Amen.


Prayer for Conversion or Return to the Catholic Faith:

O God, all hearts are in Thy Hands.  Thou canst bend, as it pleases Thee, the most stubborn, and soften the most obdurate.  I beseech Thee by the Holy Name, the Precious Blood, the Merits, Wounds and Divine Heart of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son, to grant the conversion we ask.  Amen.  (Prayer and Penance are advised by the Saints.  Denying oneself a treat or dessert, holding back an unkind word, keeping silence for 1 or 2 hours per day, a mortification of the eyes, a mortification of the palate, fasting, alms giving to the poor, etc. for the conversion of a sinner)


Indulgenced Ejaculations:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come (300 days)

Sweet Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and all our brethren who have gone astray. (100 days)

O, Mary, most sorrowful mother of all Christians, pray for us.  (300 days)

Prayer Before Holy Communion

Come, O Jesus!  My poor soul calls for Thee and awaits Thee.  Comfort my poor soul distressed.  Come and dwell within my breast.  My Savior, Jesus, come to me.  With all my heart I long for Thee.  Most firmly I believe in Thee.  Most truthfully I hope in Thee.  Most ardently I love Thee.  Then come, O Jesus, come to me. 

Let me receive Thy Body, so weary with suffering, so tortured to save me.  Let me receive Thy Blood, Which, agony for me pressed from Thy Brow in the Garden and Which Thou didst shed for love of me, every step of the Way of Thy Cross.

Let me receive Thy Soul, so sweet, and strong, meek and compassionate.  Let It lift my soul to Thee.
Come dear Jesus, with Thy Divinity.  Print Thy Divine Image on my soul, and make it holy through Thy grace.
Every day I need Thy Light to guide me in the way God wants me to go.  Come, then, O my Host, and day by day enlighten my soul with Thy Divine Grace.

Every day I need Thy Strength to fulfill God's reason for my creation.  Come, O my Host, and give me strength to set aside every obstacle in following Thee.

In my trials and afflictions of every day, Come O my Host, and give me patience and resignation.
In the duties and obligations which every day brings, Come, O my Host, and give me strength to be faithful to them.

Every day I ought to do good about me, to set good example to my neighbors, perhaps to console and counsel them.  Come, then, O my Host, day by day, and inspire me with Thy Divine Charity.
Every day is full of temptations and I am weak.  Come, O my Host, and day by day renew my powers; raise me up from my falls; purify me from my faults.

O Jesus, when dawns the day which shall be my last, come to me as my Divine Friend.  Come to me as my Host for the last time on earth so that, having begun every day of my life on earth with Thee, I may also begin the day of eternity that shall never end with Thee.  Amen. - (From Jesus, Mary, Joseph Novena Manual, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Copyright, 1939)

Satan, Temptations and Television

Without the knowledge that our holy Faith gives us of God's plan of creation and of man's destiny, both in this life and in the next, we could never hope to arrive at a correct understanding of the origin and the sources of temptation, or of the existence of evil in general.  Faith alone offers us a satisfactory explanation of this problem.
It is a teaching of the Catholic Faith that the various temptations with which we are assailed are traceable, either directly or indirectly, to the malice and hatred that Satan bears to the human race as a whole, and to every human being individually.  Not that he is the immediate author of every temptation--for a great many come from other sources--but inasmuch as he was the first cause of man's fall from the state of original holiness and perfection, he must be considered as the indirect cause of them all.
To arrive at a correct understanding of this important truth of Christian teaching, the reader must keep in mind the following points of Revelation:
Satan, known by the name of Lucifer ("Bearer of Light"), is a fallen angel.  Before his fall, he held one of the highest ranks in the angelic creation.  As an angel, he was endowed with any gifts and qualities of great excellence, which raised his nature high above the nature of man.  Among these gifts were vast intelligence, comprehensive understanding, an extensive knowledge of the laws and phenomena of nature, and a great physcial power.  These endowments, which he received in his creation, he retained in his fall, since they are proper to him as an angelic being, just as reason and free will are proper to man as a human being.  Being an essential part of his nature, we say that they are natural to him.  They are not supernatural gifts, as is the gift of sanctifying grace.  Hence, Satan did not lose these natural gifts when he fell, any more than a man loses his natural gifts when he sins.  What Satan did lose in his fall were the supernatural gifts of sanctifying grace and the right and title to the glory of Heaven, as Adam and Eve lost theirs when they committed their first sin.
What has here been said of Lucifer applies to all the rest of the fallen angels, the number of whom is known to be very great.  All of these, known as devils, are now working under the direction of their chief for the ruin and eternal perdition of human souls.
Accordingly, Satan--and for that matter, the very least of the devils--knows immeasurably more about the things of the natural order, about the universe and the laws that govern it, and about the whole realm of natural sciences than all the scientists of the world can hope to discover in a million years.  In the same way, he knows vastly more about the mysterious nature of man, about his soul and body and the intimate interrelation between them, about his passions and inclinations, his talents and abilities, his inherited tendencies and weaknesses, and his leanings toward certain sins and vices than all our physicians, anatomists, psychologists, and psychoanalysts can ever discover by the most painstaking research.  And all this vast knowledge is his not through the slow, laborious process of study, but as part of the equipment he naturally possesses as an angelic being.
In the next place, it must be noted that Satan and all the rest of the fallen angels are filled with the bitterest hatred and malice against every member of the human family.  This hatred is continuous and knows no lessening.  It has its source in undying envy, due to the fact that men are created to fill in Heaven the places vacated by Satan and his companions.  For this reason, they wage bitter and relentless war on the human race.  Their one aim is to rob men of their appointed glory and plunge them into the abyss of Hell.  In the words of St. Peter, they are continually going about like roaring lions seeking whom they may devour.
But although Satan bears this irreconcilable hatred toward men and is seeking to bring about their eternal damnation, he has only one means at his command by which he can do this.  That is "mortal sin".  By no other means and in no other way can he drag a soul into Hell.  Only those who subject themselves to his dominion by committing mortal sin, will, like him, be forever tormented with the fire that shall never die, if they pass out of this life without repentance and pardon.
From this it must be clear that Satan will leave nothing untried to make people fall into mortal sin in one way or another, and after that to keep them in it if at all possible.  For this purpose he makes use of all kinds of temptations.  In a thousand ways he tries to make sin attractive.  If he does not succeed at once, he does not give up, but continues his assaults with untiring patience.  He never loses courage over failures, but perseveres if need be for months and years, in the meantime using every conceivable trick and artifice in the hope of someday succeeding in breaking his victim's resistance and making him yield to some grievous temptation.
Thus we see how Satan is the first of the causes of our temptations.  The infinite wisdom of God permits him to play the role of tempter, for Heaven is to a great extent to be the reward of our victory over temptation and sin.  But while these temptations are very numerous and often very severe, we have the consoling assurance that God will never allow us to be tempted beyond our strength to resist; and we have His infallible promise that in answer to humble prayer He will give us what grace we need in order to come out of the conflict victorious and rich in grace and merit. (11)It is not out of place in this connection to remind you that, in these days of growing unbelief and apostasy from the true Faith, special stress must be laid on the Church's teaching regarding ythe existance of Satan and his design of bringing about the ruin of souls.  Modern godlessness, aided by the teachings of materialistic evolution, denies all this and scoffs at it as a fairytale.  That this unbelief gives Satan an immense advantage in his warfare on souls can readily be seen by the thoughtful reader.

There are innumerable temptations occasioned by the motion picture.  How this truly wonderful invention has been prostituted to the diabolical work of corrupting the minds and hearts of our children and youths even before they are able to appreciate the difference between right and wrong!  It is impossible to imagine a more destructive engine for the wholesale ruin of the innocence of childhood and youth than the salacious and suggestive movie, with its constantly recurring sex appeal.  Yet such films are produced by the thousands and exhibited all over the world, so that day after day millions of persons, both young and old, feast their eyes and hearts on scenes that suggest actions of which St. Paul says that they should not so much as be named among Christians (Cf. Eph. 5:12).  Considering how weak human nature is and how viciously inclined to impure delights, such exhibitions are bound to be the cause not merely of many violent temptations, but also of countless sins against the virtue of purity.  What a belated frost is to an orchard in full bloom, the salacious movie is to the innocence and purity of childhood and youth.
One must remember that by "occasions of sin" we understand persons, places, amusements, occupations, and objects that may easily lead us into sin.  The same applies to temptations.  This definition of the little catechism is simple and clear and requires no comment.  It is not necessary that these persons, or places, or amusements, or objects be evil in themselves; it is sufficient that nearness to them, or contact with them, induces us to commit sin, or at least cause us to be tempted thereto.  The blame, therefore, does not necessarily lie with things or places or persons, but rather with the subject who knowingly comes in contact with these.  (Quotes by Father Francis J. Remler, C.M., How to Resist Temptation, 1938; Imprimatur:  John J. Glennon, Archbishop of St. Louis, July 14, 1938)
Pope Pius XII Encyclical "Miranda Prorsus":  "For these new possessions and new instruments which are within almost everybody's grasp, introduce a most powerful influence into mens minds, both because they can flood them with light, raise them to nobility, adorn them with beauty, and because they can disfigure them by dimming their lustre, dishonor them by a process of corruption, and make them subject to uncontrolled passions, according as the subjects presented to the senses in these shows are praiseworthy or reprehensible.
Consequently,   since We as a Father, have pondered with ever greater anxiety, the essential nature of this problem and have considered the salutary benefits, so far as films are concerned, which have resulted from more than two decades from the Encyclical Letter "Vigilanti Cura", yielding to the petitions of the Bishops and those laymen who make a study of these arts, We wish by this letter to give directives and instructions with regard to both sound broadcasting and television.
Indeed, this should be the first aim of the arts of motion pictures, radio and television:  to serve truth and virtue (How many today can claim this from 21st Century Television - our emphasis)
We wrote to the Bishops of Italy "Should we not shudder if we reflect attentively that by means of television shows, even within home surroundings all can inhale that poisoned air of materialistic doctrines which diffuse notions of empty pleasures and desires of all kinds, in the same way they did over and over again in cinema halls.  It must be noticed that even more than the physiological and psychological disturbances which can arise therefrom, those dangers must be guarded against which affect the morals of youth, and which, unless turned aside and forbidden in due season, can greatly contribute to the damage and overthrow of human society itself."  Since it is a question of entertainment in which their innocence (youth) can be exposed to danger, they will be outstanding for their Christian restraint and prudence.  It is their grave obligation to check and control that natural and unrestrained eagerness to see and hear anything, and they must keep their mind free from immodest and earthly pleasures, and direct it to higher things. (How many shows of the 21st century do this very thing? Our Emphasis)
Pius XII then goes on to explain that Offices were to be conducted for the purpose of rating movies, films, etc. so as to protect people from viewing immodest or impure idea's or ideals.  This has been totally destroyed since the mid-20th Century and now the first decade of the 21st Century.
Pius XII on Actors:  Since there is a question of bringing the Motion Picture industry in line with sounder policies, that is no slight responsibility which rests on the actors; they, indeed, remembering their dignity as human beings and experienced artists, should know that they are not permitted to lend their talents to parts in plays, or to be connected with the making of films, which are contrary to sound morals.  But an actor, having gained a famous name by talent and skill, ought to use that renown, which he has justly won in such a way that he inspires the mind of the public with noble sentiments; in particular, he should remember to give a notable example of virtue to others in his private life.  When addressing professional actors on one occasion in the past, We made this assertion:  "Everyone can see that, in the presence of a throng of people listening open-mouthed to your words, applauding and shouting, your own feelings are stirred and filled with a certain joy and exhaltation, but if it can be said that someone is fully justified in these emotions, yet it does not follow that Christian actors may accept from their audience expressions of praise which savour of a type of idolatry, since, in this case, Our Saviour's words apply:  "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your "Father" Who is in heaven.

Prayers for the Dying, Why You Pray for the Dying

O Merciful Jesus, Lover of souls, I pray Thee, by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother, cleanse in Thine Own Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony and who are to die this day. Amen.

Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have pity on the dying. (100 days Ind.)

Prayer For a Happy Death

(This is the Greatest Grace we can ask of God. A Happy Death means a HEAVEN of Happiness for all eternity. A bad death means a HELL of eternal misery.)

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give Thee my heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with Thee. Amen. (300 days Indulgence)

Consecrating Last Three Hours of our Life to Mary

To Thee, O Mother of my soul, I consecrate the Last Three Hours of My Life. When death cuts the thread of my days, give my soul to Jesus and say: "I love it." This alone will be enough to obtain for me the benediction of my God and the happiness of seeing Thee for all eternity. Amen.

An Act of Resignation

My Lord God, even now I accept at Thy Hands, cheerfully and willingly, with all its anxieties, pains and sufferings, whatever kind of death it shall please Thee to be mine. Amen. (Plenary Indulgence, to be applied at death, if recited next time you go to the Sacraments)

PRAY FOR THE DYING

Today 80,000 souls will die.  Pray now for those dying.  Tomorrow will be too late.  This daily practice, so simple, so helpful should appeal to every Catholic.  One soul saved each day means 365 each year.  What a rich harvest of souls to present unto God.  St. James says:  "He who causeth a sinner to be converted....shall save his own soul from death."

(Prayers taken from Jesus, Mary, Joseph Novena Manual, Confraternity of The Precious Blood, Copyright, 1939 by Joseph Stedman)